PHILIPSBURG--Managing Director of the Harbour Group of Companies Mark Mingo on Monday dispatched a letter to Minister of Tourism Franklin Meyers regarding the St. Maarten Tourism Authority (STA) suggesting that he (the Minister) determines if the selection of board members for the STA requires the approval of the Corporate Governance Council (CGC)

Mingo's letter outlined six points which he said "emphasize that the Harbour is aware of the right procedures and the importance of a good functioning board which supports the Minister at all times to be able to execute his vision for the destination."

After pointing out that the Harbour Group would nominate him for the board of the STA, Mingo stressed that the selection of the members of the STA board is a responsibility of the Minister and, much like the appointing of the Harbour's Supervisory Board which is chosen by the Shareholder's Representative, it requires the approval of the CGC. "Please take this into consideration if it is required to follow these rules for the STA board," Mingo said.

Furthermore, Mingo continued, the correct task profiles are required for a good functioning board. "The Chairperson should be someone who has experience in dealing with a board of directors or who has a proven track record in being a Chairperson in his or her own capacity," Mingo said. "I strongly suggest that this person also has the experience in dealing with the role of Government/Ministers in his or her capacity. There must be understanding of the role of a Supervisory Board and a Managing Director."

Mingo added that as the funds are generated by government, he "firmly believes" that both the Harbour and Airport will "always act in the best interest of the destination. In the past the cruise segment has been neglected, but we were still committed to achieve growth numbers in economic decline. Also cruise supports cruise conversion programmes which stimulate stay over tourism," he said.

Mingo clarified for the Minister that while the harbour had participated in the first meetings of the STA, it was not supportive of meetings which focused only on board positions and procedures to get positions.

As reported last Saturday, Minister Meyers met with private sector stakeholders last Friday involved in the establishing of a board for the STA and informed them to nominate six persons to sit on the board of the authority. The Minister has not addressed this publicly thus far.

This changes the initial structure that the Minister wanted to implement, which called for three members from the private sector and three that government would appoint (not necessarily civil servants). The initial plan was for those six persons to select a seventh, leaving the Minister with the responsibility of appointing a Chairman of the board and the director of the authority.

The Daily Herald understands that the new course of action could have been prompted by the back and forth tension between stakeholders about who should be on the board.

Minister Meyers has selected the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA), St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA), the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce, the Harbour Group of Companies and Princess Juliana International Airport to form the private sector contingent on the tourism authority.

If it is determined the CGC should be involved in the process, this could present some complications for potential members of the board of the STA. The CGC tends to advise government against appointing persons to any board where a conflict may exist because of the person's private job, affiliation with similar entities and/or owned businesses.